She waded into the icy water until she was hip deep and turned to look back at the campsite. D'hai had a cheery fire going with some kind of meat nearby on a spit. The man himself was staring at her as if he had never seen a nude Terran wading in ice water before. Making eye contact with him, her nipples hardened to pebbles while her breasts grew full and heavy. Embarrassed at her body's reaction, she simply let herself fall backward until her body was encased in ice.

That cooled her libido as nothing else would have. It would have continued to if the water hadn't suddenly warmed and begun to caress her flesh in places even her fingers had problems going. She stood up, only to find that she had floated out beyond her reach and she treaded water.

D'hai stood nude at the edge of the water, the dragon on his chest writhing with power. The other dragon in question was not looking at her, but it held her attention as nothing else could. As he walked toward her, she merely waved her limbs idly in the now-hot water as he grew closer and closer.

Floating was out of the question—she wouldn't be able to watch him. When he ducked under the water and it began to foam and bubble, she became concerned. When a tail flicked between her thighs and rubbed her in a manner no fish would dare to, she knew that D'hai was using something else to drive her to him.

Nothing prepared her for the head with glowing silver eyes breaking the water beside her. The dragon in the water might have had her panicking if not for the voice in her head.

Ask me for the Hospitality of my body. There is no sense torturing both of us and it defies the laws of guests for me to seduce you. Well, seduce you in my human form—there are no rules against this one.

"That is fascinating." So was the stroking between her thighs being executed by his tail. "So, you thought if you shifted forms, you could get me to ask you for Hospitality?"

Yes. I thought this form would make it easier for you.

He was sliding his form around her naked limbs, supporting and stroking at the same time. Her body suddenly felt warmer than the water around her. When he stopped moving against her, he watched her closely, his silver eyes having translated the shift. It was definitely D'hai and now she could see why he was one of the Elite.

Shapeshifters were not common in space, but they did occur. Usually not into something that Myka would recognize though. She had heard of the dragons of Drai, but most of that race could no longer shift. Something in this world had kept their abilities firing. The embrace she was in was living proof.

"It makes it easier to scream and run like hell. You could have warned me."

He was supporting her in the water, so she reached up to stroke his head. She estimated him to be about twenty feet of undulating muscle with claws and fangs as large as her fingers.

You do not find this form appealing? There was laughter in his voice as he ran the coils of his body over her.

"I find your regular form very appealing, this one is just disturbing. Fun. But disturbing."

As I find your pale shape pleasing. It surprised me when you shed your clothing to bathe.

"Bathing is important to me. Unfortunately, the first time we met, I made a bad impression."

He snorted, vapour jets appearing from his nostrils. You were starved and beaten. Do not think I cannot still see the bruises on you. Your condition was forgivable.

"Thank you. Your generosity knows no bounds." She inclined her head formally an instant before he raised his head and shot a flame into the sky. If he ever laughed really hard, the local flora might be in danger.

I am still awaiting your answer. Will it be easier to ask me for Hospitality in this form?

"I think it might be a little weird. It will have to be something asked of your other shape."

As soon as the words were out of her mouth, he began to shift. Floating naked in a warm pond with a man whose body she craved was out of her realm of experience. However, when in Rome…

"Elite D'hai, I would like to request the Hospitality of your body."

She treaded water just out of his reach. As her words flowed over him, he tilted his head back, exposing the strong column of his throat. He shuddered, a sharp glow pulsed from his tattoo to cover his body. When he reopened his eyes, they were glowing as well.

"Thank you. I am not the most patient of men and knowing you wanted me but would not ask was driving me to the edge of my control." He surged forward in the water, letting Myka know for the first time that he could still touch the bottom.

"Since you asked, I formally offer you the Hospitality of my body. Use it as you will."

He was close enough to touch now and with the buoyancy afforded her, she floated over to place her hands on his shoulders.

"If you don't want me, say so now and we can forget I ever spoke."

He said nothing, so she forestalled any other speech with a kiss. The taste of him drove her senses to the edge. The indescribably wonderful scent of him transferred into a taste that was more than she had bargained for. She tried to push away from him, but he held her tightly against him with a gentle but firm touch.

He held her head still and took his own turn learning her flavour. She was shaking with heat by the time he finished. He leaned back, wonder in his eyes.

"What? I haven't changed anything."

"I beg to differ. You do not normally burn with a blue flame." He held her at arm's length and as she looked down her body, she saw what he was seeing, blue flame covering every inch of exposed skin, which meant her whole body.

"Oh, I am sorry."

"Why? I am impervious to flame. It feels rather nice against me, in fact." D'hai drew her close and kissed her again. This time, she knew as the heat in her body flared, it was exterior as well as interior.

His hand began a slow wander down her spine, cupping her buttocks and pulling her against his arousal in a firm but definite way. She moaned into his mouth and rocked against him, using the ridge of his cock to apply pressure to her clit. She was getting hotter, wetter and louder until she came against him, screaming her release to the echoing rocks.